And now you have me picturing Ed in Michael Keaton's place in the movie Multiplicity.

"You know how when you make a copy of a copy, it's not as sharp as... well... the original."

Now he can blame some of his not-so-stellar bits on that guy.

That's how I imagined it was well, although without the genetic defects. But multiple versions of Ed cooperating rather than competing. There was a good stretch back in the day when Ed was churning out tons of Realms lore.

I know I've asked this before, but I'm at a crossroads (literally) in my campaign and I'm uncertain how to proceed, and seek Ed's guidance. It's fair to say without spoiling things too much that Candlekeep is in a state of...disrepair...at the end of The Herald and yet in the latest quasi-Sourcebook it seems as if all is well and good there. One of my players wants to seek lore from the lore masters of Candlekeep and I'm not certain of its state, or if they're accepting petitioners right now. I suspect that part or all of a direct answer is covered by NDA, but can Ed provide any insight as to whether or not the Keep is accepting petitioners (or even better, in any condition to accept petitioners) in the current official campaign year? I can rough in the details from there, but (and I) don't like avoiding things simply because they're not covered in source books, yet we equally dislike when new, published novels contradict what's happened in the game.

Thank you, most beloved THO, for any illuminations you might provide.

Azuth, the First MagisterLord of All SpellsThe greatest expression of creativity is through Art.Offense can never be given, only taken.

quote:Originally posted by MarkustayI know most die-hard fans won't like that, because it means the 4e/5e time has always been the 'now', and everything we fell in love with is the distant past, but its the only thing that makes everything fit together nicely.

I note pages 117-118 of the 1st edition Manual of the Planes establish that there are plenty of alternate Primes which have the same physical and magical factors as any given version of the Forgotten Realms (0,0), and temporal factors ranging from 1 (continents and species similar, societies and individuals different) to -7 (very similar except it exists up to a millennium in the past or future).

Which is to say, whatever Realms that the Elminster that visits Ed Greenwood is from (and are we really sure there's only one Eliminster, instead of several different ones?), there's also one, right now, that's 1357 DR and described accurately by the Old Gray Box.

Ed, what's the general attitude towards trans characters in the Realms? Are there big regional differences?

Seconding this. It's extremely relevant right now. Also Ed, do you have any details on how trans people transition in the Realms, socially and physically? (Myself and a few of my trans friends have been debating this endlessly!)

THO once said she'd post how trans people are referred to in the Realms, but I don't think it ever happened.

Ed has said in the past that the GENERAL attitude is that all aspects of sexuality are tolerated pretty much everywhere - they are neither encouraged nor discouraged. On the other hand, local prejudices vary widely, especially in human dominated areas as, unfortunately, prejudice is a very human thing.

Factors are usually religious in nature, based upon the doctrine of the church that has dominance in that area, yet the priesthoods of practically every god actively avoid discrimination.

Out in the wilderness, anything goes, conversely, the bigger the settlement, the more accepting/willingly uncaring the residents are, meaning one would only have to worry about adhering to an intolerant status quo in small communities. Even in small, religious communities, matters like this are rarely a big deal due to the nature of worship in the Realms (i.e. practically everybody on a basic level is polytheistic) and the fact that there are much bigger things to worry about such as rampaging orc hordes and the like.-------That's what Ed's said in the past (about 4 years ago). On a personal note, you have to remember that magic has been available for millennia that would allow a transgender person to relatively easily become the sex that they wanted to be. In our world, the ability to change sexes is a VERY new technology and our culture hasn't had the time to catch up as they have in the Realms.

That's not to say a Crinti matriarch wouldn't consider punishing a man who used magic to transform into a woman for example - she might erroneously believe that they were trying to rise above their station. A Vremmyoni might possibly have to remain as such if he transitioned but on the whole, I think the majority of people wouldn't even notice if someone who's transformed into the opposite sex wasn't born that way.

Edit: In the last hour, Ed posted his reaction on Facebook to some of the negative reactions to the trans NPC in Baldur's Gate: Seige of Dragonspear.

Dear Ed,I have been away from Candlekeep for quite a while now, but I came back here just to tell you how much I appreciate your statement regarding the 'controversy' surrounding Siege of Dragonspear. Kudos to you!This is one of the occasions where one can clearly see why the Realms, created by you, are such a great place.Thanks and best wishes from Germany,Thieran

Quick and probably off limits question here but would you care to speculate the name (or title, i.e. the unseen, or of the Great Spear) of the last of the Seven Lost Gods tackled by Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul.

Your faithful realmsian servant (who is currently adding a spit and polish to Netheril The First Age and eventually all the way up to the Shadowed Age).

I would like to ask some questions about Madeiron Sunderstone. How did he get the surname Sunderstone? Was it something that was assumedd based on life experience or was it a name brought from his homeland of Hartsvale?

Being a direct line descendant of the giant demigod the Hartkiller and the first King of Hartsvale Brun, he possessed the great size but did also he possess the same supernatural strength that manifested in the royal Hartwick line?

Did he consider his lineage consequential? Was it something he shared with Piergerion or his friends? Would it have any impact on how they felt about him? Did he ever lament being separated from his homeland? At what age and circumstances did he leave Hartsvale and come south to the Inner Sea? Did an experience draw him to being a Paladin and serving Tyr or was it based on the nature of his personality?

Did he and Piergeiron become acquainted before Piergeiron became the Open Lord? Were they of a similar age to each other? Did Madeiron work his way into becoming the Open Lord's champion?

Can you please shed some light on the unnamed tanar'ri lord that Alustriel, Lynx and Tulrun abandoned Silverymoon to go fight in 876 DR? I know you never specifically said tanar'ri lord, but Eric Boyd did in an issue of Polyhedron.

I figure it must have been a big deal for Alustriel to have up and left her beloved city, taking all of her apprentices with her, to go start a fight with a demon.

Secondly, I know I asked this during a particularly busy time in your career, but did you ever ponder on my query of November 2014?

quote:Originally posted by hashimashadoo

Most generous sage of sages, I am curious.

What ever happened with the drow infiltration of Scornubel detailed in Silverfall?Also, did you ever come up with some more detail on Telnarquel, mentioned in the same tome, such as anything remarkable about it before it was abandoned (other than its seclusion of course).

Thank you as ever for listening to our incessant queries and thank you to the lovely THO for delivering your responses and gracing us with her presence.

Wow, that sounded toadier than I intended.

As always, you magnificent, magnanimous man, you have my heartfelt thanks and I wish you and Jenny the best.

I would like to repeat my questions from last year in hopes they will be answered.1) Could you shed some light on Roll of the years? Any tidbits about Augathra, Alaundo or Maglas will be great.2) As Nine hells are canonicaly later creation by fallen angels, do you have any information on how Baator looked like before that?

There is no need to repeat your question. No question in Ed's thread goes unseen by him; his Lovely Hooded Emissary passes on everything to him, sometimes including discussions on other threads.

Here's the thing: Ed is one insanely busy guy. He has a creative output to rival that of the hypothetical Shakespearean monkeys, on top of a day job and other commitments. On top of that, he doesn't always have the answer to any given question readily available -- there is much Realmslore to be found piled in boxes and such in his legendary basement. And on top of that, he treads an ever-shifting minefield of NDAs and projects he has to avoid speaking on. Sometimes he can't even mention an NDA without giving something away.

Add into that mix a new publishing venture...

So, long story short -- your questions have been forwarded to Ed. He may answer within hours, you may be waiting for a few years... I've got unanswered questions going back at least a few years, myself. I've gotten almost immediate answers, and I've gotten answers so much later that I'd forgotten I'd asked the question.

Heck, even being able to email him directly doesn't guarantee a swift answer to a lore question...

Hi, all!I'm still alive (and so is Ed), just busybusybusy.I recall Ed answering some Madeiron Sunderstone questions SOMEWHERE recently, but let me answer a few of Clegane's queries off the top of my head (drawing on my experiences as a player in the "home" Realms campaign):How did he get the surname Sunderstone? Was it something that was assumedd based on life experience or was it a name brought from his homeland of Hartsvale?A: He was born with it (it's his family name).

Being a direct line descendant of the giant demigod the Hartkiller and the first King of Hartsvale Brun, he possessed the great size but did also he possess the same supernatural strength that manifested in the royal Hartwick line?A: Madeiron was tremendously strong in our dealings with him. As in, briefly hold up collapsing building while inside it (so others could escape) strong.

Did he and Piergeiron become acquainted before Piergeiron became the Open Lord?A: Yes.

I realize these are fragments at best, but they're tidbits I can contribute without getting a response from Ed. Whose nursing of his wife takes most of his time, these days, with his own publishing venture coming second (through financial necessity coming ahead of the Realms at the moment).Ed's next Realms novel, DEATH MASKS, comes out in early June, just to confirm...love to all,THO

Thank you much for the answers. I don't know how much it means from a web board stranger, but please extend my best wishes to Ed and his wife for wellness and his other endeavors. Sharing that he is dealing with the most important of issues in life, I hope the sharing generates tremendous positive energy and prayers headed he and his wife's way.

I hope to get to Gencon or one of his appearances one day and say thanks in person but as a lover of the Realms which I am sure are legion in number, I gotta believe he has many wishing the best, I know I am one. He hasn't just shared his creative imagination with us through game products and novels but in creating a real community with the fans and creators around a love of the Realms. In my short time on the board, it's clear through your participation and forwarding Ed's imaginings to us and the contributions of so many others, the Realms are nurtured and shared in many ways and are alive and well.

Dear THO, could you please ask Ed about the current state of Tethyr and Amn? The Swoed Coast Adventure's Guide does not clarify if Murann still exists or is still dominated by monsters? Also, the lands of intrigue are my favorite in the Realms, and I would like to ask Ed both if their treatment in official materials reflects his vision on those lands and if he would like to explore them in future materials. Thanks as always!

As a followup to my Madieron questions, I gather from you answer and familiarity with Madeiron that the "home" Realms campaign probably included a lot of the more well known characters from the novels and game materials. What were some of the prominent PCs and NPCs fans might be familiar with in the "home" campaign centered around Waterdeep? Am I right in assuming the character roster in the the original Waterdeep and the North supplement were played or used as frequent NPC's?

Quickie Eveningstar map question. What is the large (possibly the largest) building almost directly south of the Temple Granaries? Seems like an awful large edifice to not be mentioned, or am I missing some hidden reference?

In our last session over the weekend I decided to run the "explosive encounter" between the circle (more of an arc) of nine levitating fireball-hurling mages in front of the Halls. I would dub my version more of a slaughter than an encounter. Perhaps I made the Company of the Unicorn too underpowered or undermanned, or both, but as I played out the mock encounter it was a short-lived three round affair. In my play through they were surprised by the hovering menaces when attempting to gain entrance into the halls, and despite the fact that they tried to flee in earnest they were quickly cut down. Looking back, nine mages that can cast fireballs, even at minimum level requirements, would be more than a match for most "hero level" adventures. My players wisely watched from the shadows of the surrounding woods rather than leap to the aid of the beleaguered group -- and the only way I saw the gave the Unicorns any hope of survival. Without going into lengthy detail one member did survive, but technically it was a swift TPK. I feel like I short-changed the library version of the group somehow, and I am meaning to make amends to the spirit of that group.

I know from a previous question of mine, some NDA's an spoilers may apply, but I'd like narrow my original inquiry about that event. First was there ever a name to the circle of mages? Was "the encounter" with the Company of the Unicorn a pitched battle, ambush by the mages, ambush by the company, and/or full-out retreat by one or the other? In a note I penciled in my module I wrote "mages eventually defeated by/with the help of the Knights of Myth Drannor"; which suggests two encounters. Is this how it played out in the home campaign or library campaign? Feel free to put what input you're allowed THO. Any and all thoughts are appreciated.